Casey Gilbert, 17, pins a captain's badge on the uniform of her father, Capt. Mark Gilbert. Gilbert was officially sworn in as a Chicopee Police captain Wednesday.
The Republican / John Suchocki

CHICOPEE -- When asked about the medal of valor pined to his uniform, Police Capt. Mark D. Gilbert shrugged and looked a little embarrassed.

“I went for a swim in ‘99,” he said.

The swim was, in fact, a dive into frigid waters of the Connecticut River in Willimansett to rescue a man who had capsized in his kayak. The man was clinging to his upside down boat and was struggling with hypothermia. Gilbert removed his shoes and outer clothing, swam into the strong current to the man and the two managed to get to shore by hanging on and kicking.

Over the course of a dozen years, Gilbert rose from patrolman to sergeant to lieutenant, and on Wednesday he was named captain and assigned to oversee the detective bureau on the night shift.

“I love the job. I’m glad for the opportunity,” he said at the promotion ceremony.

Gilbert said he looks at the job of captain as the person who provides the leadership but also the one who makes sure nothing gets in the way so officers can get their jobs done.

“Your priorities shift from what you can to accomplish to what can the people under you accomplish,” he said.

After he signed a contract with Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette and was sworn in by City Councilor Keith W. Rattell, Gilbert’s 17-year-old daughter, Casey, came forward and pinned the captain’s badge to her father’s uniform.

Gilbert’s wife, Jane, and his 15-year-old son, Kyle, also attended the ceremony, along with a number of members of the Police Department.

Acting Police Thomas G. Charette said he has worked with Gilbert for years and is happy to see him promoted to captain.

“We went to the (Police) Academy together, we worked the same shift and I put him in charge of the narcotics unit and he did a great job,” Charette said.

He is the second person to be promoted to captain this year. Jeffrey Gawron became captain four months ago, filling a vacancy created by a retirement.

Gilbert’s position was created indirectly because of the retirement of Chief John R. Ferraro Jr. Although a permanent chief has not been named yet, officials have already announced the department’s new head will be promoted from the ranks of the seven captains, Bissonnette said.

In the upcoming months, Bissonnette said he also will promote a sergeant to the now-vacant lieutenant position. The job of sergeant, however, will remain vacant until a Civil Service test can be given for those patrolmen interested in moving into a supervisor position.

The city also recently hired three patrolmen who are training at the state Police Academy. Bissonnette said he is planning to start to interview candidates in November to fill six patrol positions.